When Ana Calderone was diagnosed with breast cancer, specifically stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma, she was determined that her diagnosis wouldn’t define her or slow her down. Now that she’s cancer-free, she’s on a mission to spread awareness around breast health for millennial women and provide support for anyone who is facing a similar situation. 

In our conversation, Ana takes us back to the day she felt a lump on her breast and found out she had cancer. She walks us through how she worked with her doctors to come up with the right treatment plan for her and breaks down the vocabulary associated with breast cancer. She also highlights some of the side-effects of the different treatments and talks about her personal experience with hair loss, fatigue, and nausea. 

Ana ultimately chose to do chemotherapy, get a double mastectomy, and then do proton radiation therapy. She describes what that process was like for her and talks about how her mindset changed throughout the healing process. Ana also explains what she’s doing differently now that she’s cancer-free, including dabbling with sobriety and living a more active, holistic lifestyle. 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:

• How Ana detected there was something wrong with her breast 
• What went into Ana’s decision to get a double mastectomy
• Techniques to reduce hair loss due to chemotherapy, including cold capping 
• Why having a supportive community is so important for the healing process 
• How Ana empowered herself and cultivated a positive mindset throughout her cancer journey 

Resources mentioned 

• Southern Charm 
• Ina Garten's coconut cake recipe  

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